Mental Attitude: Autistic Kids “In Tune” with Mom’s Feelings. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
usually have trouble interpreting facial emotions, but a new study finds that some autistic kids are just as “in-tune”
with their mother’s expressions as kids without ASD. In the study, researchers had young children with and without
ASD view five facial expressions of both familiar and unfamiliar faces. The researchers observed that boys and girls
without autism were better able to read strangers’ expressions, especially negative emotions such as fear and
sadness. However, children with high-functioning autism read the emotions on their mother’s faces just as well as
kids without the condition. Based on the findings, the study’s authors recommend future large-scale studies to
determine if this effect also applies to expressions from other familiar individuals, such as fathers, siblings, and
classmates. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, March 2019
Health Alert: The Night Shift Is Tough on the Heart. In this study, researchers analyzed data concerning more
than 320,000 people and found that individuals who routinely work nights are 13% more likely to develop coronary
heart disease than daytime workers The cause of the increased risk is unknown, but the research team speculates that
disruption of the normal sleep-wake cycle, increased stress, and unhealthy lifestyles associated with shift work may
be factors for the increased risk. Occupational Medicine, March 2019
Diet: Red/Processed Meats and Colorectal Cancer Risk. A review of dietary data concerning over 600,000
middle aged men and women in the United Kingdom suggests that consuming more than 76 grams of red or
processed meat per day is associated with an increased risk for colorectal cancer.
International Journal of Epidemiology, April 2019
Exercise: Exercise Improves Survival Odds for Cancer Patients. The results of a new study suggest that
exercising for at least one hour a day may improve the five-year survival rate of cancer patients by up to 15%.
Southern Medical Journal, April 2019
Chiropractic: Back Pain and Firefighters. Surveys completed by 430 firefighters revealed that those exposed to
higher levels of occupational stress were 52% more likely to report a musculoskeletal pain condition, with back pain
being the most common complaint. Int’l Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, March 2019
Wellness/Prevention: Keeping Pets Safe During Severe Weather. Keeping your pets safe during severe weather
events should be part of your family safety plan. The National Weather Service recommends bringing pets indoors
during storms, never leaving pets alone in the car during hot or cold weather, confining pets to one room in case of
flooding or wildfire, and making plans to care for pets in the event you must evacuate.
National Weather Service, April 2019
Quote: “Life is half spent before we know what it is.” ~ George Herbert
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.

Mental Attitude: Smiling Can Boost Your Mood. Following a review of data from 14 studies published in the last
fifty years, researchers conclude that smiling can make people feel happier, scowling can evoke angrier feelings, and
frowning can result in the sensation of sadness. Lead researcher Dr. Nicholas Coles writes, “We don’t think that
people can smile their way to happiness… But these findings are exciting because they provide a clue about how the
mind and the body interact to shape our conscious experience of emotion. We still have a lot to learn about these
facial feedback effects, but this meta-analysis put us a little closer to understanding how emotions work.”
Psychological Bulletin, April 2019
Health Alert: Type 1 Diabetics Often Not Aware of Low Blood Sugar Episodes. Seniors who suffer from type 1
diabetes appear to have trouble avoiding low blood sugar. In this study, researchers monitored 203 type 1 diabetics
over the age of 60 and observed that participants spent an average of 72 minutes a day with blood sugar levels of less
than 70 mg/dL and 24 minutes a day at less than 54 mg/dL. Endocrine Society, March 2019
Diet: Omega-3s May Help Patients with Fatty Liver. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) occurs when fat
accumulates in the liver from causes other than excessive alcohol consumption. The current research suggests that,
due to their anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, omega-3 fatty acid supplementation may be an effective
treatment for NAFLD early in the course of the disease. Nutrients, April 2019
Exercise: Exercise Before Learning Something New? The current research suggests that engaging in a session of
acute exercise before learning new information improves memory encoding. Brain Science, April 2019
Chiropractic: Spinal Manipulation’s Effect on Leg Range of Motion. A review of data from eight random
controlled trials found that a single application of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) can improve lower limb
neurodynamics (length of mobility of various components of the nervous system) and the range of motion of the
legs. The authors of the review recommend future research using standardized neurodynamic tests to explore
technique types and evaluate the longer-term effects of spinal manipulation. The study shows yet another possible
benefit of techniques commonly used by doctors of chiropractic.
Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy, February 2019
Wellness/Prevention: Controlling Endometriosis Symptoms. Endometriosis is a potentially painful condition that
occurs when the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. According to the Office on Women’s Health, while there is
no cure for endometriosis, there are several treatments that can minimize symptoms such as birth control medication,
hormonal therapy, herbs/supplements, acupuncture, and even chiropractic care.
Office on Women’s Health, March 2019
Quote: “The truth needs so little rehearsal.” ~ Barbara Kingsolver
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.

Mental Attitude: Hearing Loss Linked to Stroke Risk? An analysis of data concerning nearly 20,000 middle aged
and older Chinese adults identified an association between hearing loss and an elevated risk for stroke, particularly in
cases of severe hearing loss. Atherosclerosis, March 2019
Health Alert: Post-Concussion Symptom Persistence… Using data concerning 647 patients who had experienced
a mild-traumatic brain injury (mTBI), researchers identified the following risk factors for post-concussion symptoms
and disability: advancing age, female gender, previous psychiatric history, and the involvement of assault or alcohol
in the head injury. British Journal of Neurosurgery, April 2019
Diet: Reduce Sugary Drinks. Regular sugary drink consumption has been linked to many chronic diseases and
conditions. If you struggle with reducing your sugary drink intake, the Alaska Department of Health and Social
Services offers the following suggestions: limit sugary drinks to special occasions; choose water or low-fat milk
instead; carry water with you; and make water tasty by adding lemon or mint.
Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, March 2019
Exercise: Find Time for a 7-Minute Workout. If it’s difficult to find time for a workout, try this 7-minute workout
created by the American College of Sports Medicine that combines cardio and resistance exercises into a single
circuit training session involving jumping jacks, wall sits, push-ups, abdominal crunches, step-ups, squats, tricep
dips, planks, running in place, lunges, push-ups, and side planks. Perform each exercise for 30 seconds with a tensecond break before starting the next exercise. The circuit can be performed just once, or it can be repeated up to
three times. Because you don’t need any equipment, it can be done just about anywhere and can provide great fitness
benefits. American College of Sports Medicine, March 2019
Chiropractic: Effects of Spinal Manipulation on Pain Sensitivity. In a study that involved 29 patients with
chronic low back pain, researchers observed that participants treated with six sessions of spinal manipulative therapy
(SMT) not only experienced improvements related to low back pain and disability but also in pressure point
thresholds in both the lower back and lower extremities up to a week after the conclusion of care.
Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy, March 2019
Wellness/Prevention: Smoking Linked to Stroke Recurrence. Following a stroke, individuals who continue to
smoke cigarettes are nearly twice as likely to experience a recurrent stroke as those who have never smoked.
However, those who quit smoking can slash that risk by nearly 60%.
Journal of the American Heart Association, April 2019
Quote: “What is necessary to change a person is to change his awareness of himself.” ~ Abraham Maslow
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.

Mental Attitude: Criticism and Creativity. Through field and lab experiments, researchers have observed that
negative feedback may help or hinder creativity depending on where the criticism came from. More specifically, the
data show that when creative professionals or participants received criticism from a boss or a peer, they tended to
become less creative in their subsequent work. However, when an individual received negative feedback from an
employee of lower rank, they became more creative. Academy of Management Journal, April 2019
Health Alert: Poor Fitness and Sleep Apnea. Using long-term health data concerning 1.5 million Swedish men,
researchers have identified an association between poor fitness scores at age 18 and a 30% increased risk for
obstructive sleep apnea later in life, even among those who were not obese/overweight.
Journal of Sleep Research, April 2019
Diet: Unhealthy Diet Linked to 1 in 5 Deaths… A study that included data from nearly 200 countries has linked
poor diet quality (particularly diets high in sodium and low in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and nuts and seeds) to
nearly 11 million of the 55 million deaths recorded each year worldwide. The Lancet, April 2019
Exercise: Staying Fit Cuts Heart Attack Risk in Women. An analysis of data concerning over 13,000 middleaged Norwegian women whom researchers monitored over a 13-year time period revealed that the most fit women in
the study had a 12-25% lower risk for an acute myocardial infarction than the least fit participants.
Journal of the American Heart Association, May 2019
Chiropractic: Sinus Headaches and Neck Pain. Examinations of 31 patients with self-reported sinus headaches
and 30 patients without a history of headaches revealed that neck pain and cervical musculoskeletal dysfunction
were common among those with sinus headaches and may be a contributing factor to headaches attributed to
sinusitis. The researchers recommend further studies to understand these associations. Chiropractors often treat
patients with sinus headaches and accompanying neck pain/dysfunction with a combination of lifestyle advice,
manual therapies, and nutrition counseling. Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy, February 2019
Wellness/Prevention: Carbon Monoxide Safety. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and poisonous
gas, which can be deadly. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that more than 150 people in the
United States die each year from CO poisoning. The commission goes on to recommend that consumers do the
following: have annual heating system inspections, never use portable generators indoors, never use an oven for
heating, install battery-operated CO alarms, and know the symptoms of CO poisoning.
Consumer Product Safety Commission, March 2019
Quote: “What is not started today is never finished tomorrow.” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.